National Center for Sustainable Transportation

The transportation sector contributes significantly to emissions, with heavy-duty (HD) vehicles responsible for a disproportionately large share. Zero-emission trucks, particularly battery electric trucks (BETs), have emerged as potential solutions to reduce these emissions. BETs offer benefits such as high energy efficiency with low operating noise while facing the challenges such as range anxiety and inadequate infrastructure. This report presents a survey of the latest advancements in battery technologies and primarily focusing on Class 7 and Class 8 heavy-duty vehicles due to their critical role in freight transport. This report further provides information of the status and future expectations of BETs. Finally, a feasibility analysis is presented to assess the battery requirement and operating cost for a 410-mile route from Long Beach, CA to San Francisco, CA. The results highlight the importance of charging scheduling and strategic planning for infrastructure to lower the operating cost and accelerate the widespread adoption of zero-emission trucks. These findings aim to offer insights for policymakers and researchers working toward sustainable freight transport. 

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